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Friday, May 11, 2012

Mitt Romney's Magic Mormon Underwear

The 2012 Presidential Election will be known as the dirtiest political race in the history of the United States. More money brings more problems and LOTS of mud to sling. Much has changed since the 2008 election as The Supreme Court has since ruled in favor of corporations being able to anonymously funnel an unlimited amount of money to their chosen candidate. Of course, money isn't the ONLY factor in deciding a popular election, but it's increasing the deciding factor. Fortunately for Republican nominee Mitt Romney, he certainly has no shortage of funds and is also protected by his Magic Mormon Underwear. These sacred garments are worn by folks of Mormon persuasion day and night to safeguard against the evils of the world including liberals, terrorists, homosexuals and poor people who would hope to see the downfall of a rich elitist such as himself.

Inks on Bristol / 2012

In the end, Romney is banking on the power of his temple garments and God Almighty to make it rain enough fluid cash to wash away the Obamanation and usher in the dawning of a new conservative era. The Republican Party hopes a Romney win will course-correct President Obama's attempts at narrowing the wealth gap in our country, leaving men like Romney as the ruling class. Money walks, money talks and money buys elections in our brave new world. This man was chosen for the divine path to the White House because he's undeniably filthy rich. Just how much money does Mitt have? According to USA Today, if one takes the combined wealth of the past 8 U.S. Presidents and doubles it... that is Romney's net worth. If elected, he will be the richest man to ever occupy the Oval Office.

How much does money truly factor in to which party gets elected these days? In 2004, 98% of House Seats and 88% of Senate Seats were awarded to the candidate who spent the most money. In 2006, the same held true for 94% of House and 73% of Senate seats as well as 93% of House and 94 % of Senate seats in 2008. These are staggering numbers, which really tell the tale of how cash affects the outcome of voting. Of course, in 2008, Obama had a 2 to 1 monetary advantage over McCain. It is clear why Republicans nominated the wealthiest candidate they could find...

According to analysts, political advertising on television this election is expected to jump 80%. With Super PACs now in play, things are about to get nasty as these groups can spend anonymous contributions in any manner they see fit via attack ads. Of course, as we've seen in the primaries, candidates don't even have to take any responsibility for the content of these ads seeing as the "independent" PAC pays for them. A recent study found when a candidate doubled his spending on ads in any particular state, they got an extra 1% of the popular vote. Likewise, when they cut spending by half, they lost 1% of the votes. Add this to the list of reasons the general public wishes to remove corporate interests from politics as they devalue the average citizen's vote. Polls have shown nearly 70% of Americans wish to limit campaign contributions, but then again, who is voting for us on such legislation?

"The issue here is not class envy, hating rich people because they are rich, but class interests – cementing the advantages of the privileged over the rest. The problem is not personal, it's systemic. In the current climate, it means a group of wealthy people in business will decide which wealthy people in Congress they would like to tell poor people what they can't have because times are hard. And unless the ruling is overturned there is precious little that can be done about it."

Today, there are over 250 Millionaires in Congress, drawing less than a $200K per year salary. Money is an extension of power and wealthy men seek more and more control. The median worth of any Congressman is $892K, which is NINE TIMES the average American Household. Just remember when they have their hand out- if anyone doesn't need your contributions to get by, it's your local Politician... and the Good Lord of course.

Barry is the one with the record and it isn't a good one. Doubles the debt in 1/2 the time. Claims that he "saved the auto industry" when Ford is doing fine without taking any gov. money and Chrysler still owes taxpayers over $1 billion. Has fund raisers in La Jolla making as much if not more than Romney while the Libs go after Romney for living in LJ. Supported by Goldman Sachs, talk about Greed and Capitalism, LOL!!! has a VP that even OBL thinks is an idiot!! Only real policies are Green Energy and "shovel-ready" costing the taxpayers millions with Solindra and EN1, etc....need any more? "Obama must go"!!!

All that money buys all those ads which brainwash these folks into believing a guy like Romney is out to benefit ANYONE outside of his tax bracket. It's true indoctrination and the reason we need Campaign Finance Reform immediately!

Brandt I take it you don't realize how brainwashed you are. So you hear over and over that Romney is the money man in this race and that his massive amount of contributions are going to buy the election... but do you ever actually research anything or just believe what you're spoonfed? How about the fact that Obama has raised $260 million vs Romney's $122 million? I guess that's just the conservative media like NY Times bending the truth though... http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/campaign-finance/

If you want to know what truly rules this country, it's total ignorance. People absorb so much peripheral news these days that they think they know everything without having to do any real research. But enjoy living in rhetoric-land...

I mean, I get it, I watched the Colbert Report the other night and I understand that for a lot of people, shows like that are their only source of news. I guess that is just the way it is, but the country and the world would be a lot better places if people KNEW things before speaking like they did.

I'm not a diehard Romney fan and I believe in many of the things that Obama has done during his time in office. However, we are seeing the outcome of generations of increasing entitlement pledges without matched funding unfold right before our eyes in Europe, and very few in this country are taking the time to observe and learn from their mistakes. The lasting future of this country very likely hinges on the outcome of this election, and hopefully if Obama wins again he will ensure that we don't make the same mistakes as our brothers overseas.

Spencer: As far as my own brainwashing goes, I don't watch television and rely on reading most of my news. I have referenced statistics throughout my article which are linked to several sites. I feel we have much more complex issues at hand than Europe, which may be better served on another forum as to stay on topic here.

Hayden: If you'd like to stick around sweetheart, you'll find the portraits of Fred Phelps and Hitler as well! Learn to take a joke in its satirical context.

Our economic problems did not begin with Obama - he unfortunately stepped into a pile of crap! Look up Brooksley Born to find out how she wanted to "protect the money of the American people!" She was driven out her position when she wanted to regulate derivatives...our problems are way deeper than the American public realizes. It doesn't matter what politician is in office because they are all money driven!

Bulls-Eye Anonymous, Thank you for the insightful comment. The money problems our country faces start on Wall Street and must be dealt with on Wall Street by a Government who is not bought and paid for with special interests always at mind. Our elected officials represent lobbying money and campaign money, not the people who vote them into office. The Wall Street culture which demands bigger profits every year has crippled and corrupted our economy. While the rest of us suffer and face increasingly obscene expenses, these companies report record profits year after year. What they do with the money is practically unsanctioned by the Government which they have bastardized from the inside-out.

Resonant Anonymous, indeed societies crumble under extreme class divisions and income inequalities which cause the people to rise up. We are reaching the tipping point here in the States with the number of unemployed, bankrupt, foreclosed and evicted rising daily.

"Mitt the twit" is an idiot when it comes to foreign policy!! President? The twit or the only choice Obama. Republican's really did it this time, and now they have to back that nut up!! His fellow Mormon Glenn Beck said "I just don't trust him, I just don't trust him" He is a Republican and so am I but... really? Maybe next time the republican party can get it right. Until then here comes 4 more years!

Agreed this website is a joke and I wouldn't be surprised if George Soros funds this.

Make fun of Romney all you like but he is better than Barack who: spent $1 Trillion dollars (and accomplished nothing for the U.S, unless you work for the gov or big labor), forced a $2 Trillion dollar (over 10 years and rising) Health Care bill through our legal system, and ignores the economy at every possible moment of his 1st term. Obama is dangerous if reelected, the Global markets are extremely shaky, their banks are going to go through similair period like those did in the U.S after the 2008 crash. Those banks the EU likes, wants, or can't afford to fail they will have to loan $ to, like currently in Spain, so some will fail some will merge and get stronger. Any ways at best the European economy is going to lose a huge amount of years of progress and take a long time to recover and slowly grow again. This is bad for everyone including U.S, we are a Global interconnected market, we still have not really recovered from the recession, Europe's economy will hurt China, the rest of Asia , and every other economy on the globe. We definitely don't need a socialist at the wheel during these turbulent times. We need anyone but O.

More screams of insanity from the Conservative Peanut Gallery! Turbulent Anonymous, with all due respect to Mr. Soros, this site is only funded by my own free time outside of my day job. Obama has worked with a fraction of the budget the Bush and Clinton administrations had, being very mindful of what is spent. For once, I'll be one to say, "Get your facts straight."

Of course Romney is disappointing, but Obama/Soetoro is systematically implementing a terrific softening of American infrastructure at the political, military, social, legislative and economic levels. Term 2 will shatter the remnants of the America people think they live in now (which is slipping away). People are NOT watching his regime and its insidious network of UNhidden fingers so effectively take apart our country (no need to hide them when most don't understand what's happening before their eyes anyway). Romney is a terrible candidate. He is so stereotypically RHINO it is sickening, magic underwear or not. But, he is not an arm of the Democratic Socialists of America with communist parents and a lifetime of being raised and groomed by Weather Undergrounders to hate America and undo its traditions and infrastructure. He is a warm body poised to take the seat of power of the free world from this wolf in sheep's clothing and stop the "forward" progress--even just by being a human Club on the steering wheel of the political machine. If we are lucky, perhaps he will have the brainpower in his regime to begin to undo what the current regime has begun. If not, at least he can become an impediment to more "forward" progress. Wait until Romney is in, do all you can to help put him in. Once the machine has the monkey wrench between the cogs, then we will need to start to rebuild it. But you have to stop the machine, and ANY monkey wrench will do, RHINO, intellectually slow, magically underweared, or what have you. God, I can't believe that's the best option we have right now, but that's the way it is.

Lesser of two evils is still evil? No kidding, that's why they're both called "evils." But you have to pick one or risk getting stuck with the other. What is your point? You're planning on writing in a name? And rhetoric-based arguments? I'll assume you are implying I employed some amount of hyperbole in the initial post above with that remark. I can only emphatically reply that I am likely understating the problem above, as Obama is merely the tip of the spear. There are a lot of others who have been working hard to get him where he is who also need "addressed" eventually. Also, we have no reason to believe Romney will be anything other than what he has been in the past, which is good at running Olympics and bad at being consistently conservative. Not a ringing endorsement for a GOP candidate to be found in there. He is a poor candidate, and that's not overstatement; it's obvious. Even so, I predict he wins handily, as no president with a record like Obama's has won a second term. The independent voters are simply going to ask, "What has he done for me lately?" and then put in the next guy in line. Funny enough, that very well may be enough to stop the socialists (depending on how many dead people vote and homeless people vote multiple times on election day).

Who has the narrow view Brandt? Really, who does. You paint a few pictures and that give you the right to pick on the religions of others?

I'm not a Mormon and I'm no Romney supporter, but when you show bigotry like this, you are no different that any far right preacher who says you are going to Hell because you don't agree with everything he says.

How hard is it to deal with Romney without resorting to childish religious bigotry? The guy gives and gives, yet you take cheap shots.

Hayden, you've referred to me as Fred Phelps, Hitler and now a Hell-Fire and Brimstone Southern Preacher. All I've done here is draw Romney is his religious undergarments. What would be the difference if I drew the Pope in his getup or a Muslim in theirs. If the depiction of these garments is obscene and religious bigotry, then by that rationale, the underwear itself is obscene and religious bigotry.

Brandt, you forgot to tell ppl that the bra must be worn OVER the magic underwear, and as a woman I CRINGE at the idea of how that would feel, except on a sweaty hot day and then I envy them. But still. At least you incl. the symbols, as most don't.

Funny little film, I laughed a lot, and I'm still voting for Romney. I don't give a sheee-it who makes fun of me or throws spit balls at me for saying this - ANYBODY BUT OWEBUMMER!!! There, now the rest of you can have pissy little temper tantrums and I won't even know about them because I'm about to leave this page. Usually I real ALL the comment, but y'all make me sick. Enjoy your "saviour" and I hope you choke to death on your words. No doubt y'all are the welfare suckers that have lowered my income for the last time. Layabouts who want their saviour to stay in office so they can keep getting welfare. Turd burglers.

Turd Burglar Anonymous, I did in fact make every effort to depict the religious garb accurately. I hear a lot of the generic new pairs don't have the symbols on them. I'm sure Romney springs for the good stuff though, don't ya think?

Again Brandt’s ignorance on display in full view. Maybe you should...hummm; find out the facts before posting such stupidity? Naa too difficult to look up facts. There are no "generic" garments. Yes asshole they are called garments, not garb or underwear. And yes looking at your picture what you have depicted is extremely bigoted and intolerant. Not like you give two shits what others believe but to paint those symbols on fire like that is one of the most offensive things I have ever seen. Next time draw Obama with big ears and a tail, maybe enjoying a few bananas, or Pelosi with a Tommy gun eating Carpaccio, maybe Biden with a Nazi uniform...your level of ignorance and insensitivity is glowing.

Thanks for the racist and obtuse suggestions! I'll take them under advisement. The pink flames around the symbols add a nice touch I though... I was attempting to accentuate them with a seductive color to liven things up. They are sorta drab without the yellows and blushes right?

Soft Anonymous, I think the club on the steering wheel is already here with a Congress which simply bickers and whose agenda is apparently NO PROGRESS. I can't say I agree with everything done under the Obama administration but our country could do well adopting some logic from socialist ideals to bring us back down to earth. We live in a country where every last citizen is seemingly corrupted by the greed and materialism of the "American Dream." It is unfortunate we allowed Socialism to be turned into a 4-letter word by Reagan's fear-mongering. We live in a society where there is enough wealth to go around but it is increasingly the case that it's only going to the top.

Mass Consumerism is the reason our middle class's back is broken with debt. This model of existence only births insatiable greed and fluent corruption. We're destroying the planet with millions of people convinced they can be millionaires. A socialist model is a sustainable and local model in many ways.

Small-minded Anonymous, I hate to burst your bubble but I work as a Marketing Manager for one of the world's largest water treatment companies when I'm not at home drawing (or on my lunch break addressing people who assume I'm unemployed due to their obtuse view of the world.)

Fascinating how you only mention the money on Romney's side of the presidential equation, while it was the Obama team that was boasting about how they would raise a BILLION dollars for their campaign! And they gather with George Clooney's buddies for a $40K a plate fundraiser. Wonder why you didn't mention any of that in your screed?

Bipartisan Anonymous, indeed Obama changed the rules on campaign financing in 2008. I did mention he outspent McCain 2 to 1 but didn't go into details since he's obviously not the subject of this article.

Forget about the Mormon underwear and think about the muzlam religeon that hangs gays in public and actualy stones women in the streets....oh yea thats much better than a dude that has big underwear on....who cares if he thinks they can make him fly....lookm at what Obama is doing to this country....blind morons

OBAMA IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS PAGE....THIS PAGE WAS CREATED BY A OBAMA LOVING IDIOT THAT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT UNDERWEAR TO MAKE YOU GET OFF THE SUBJECT OF THE CRAP SANDWICH OBAMA IS MAKING US ALL EAT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW THAT WHEN BUSH LEFT OFFICE,THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF GAS WAS $1.89 A GALLON.I DONT CARE IF ROMNEY GOES COMANDO UNDER HIS SUIT, OBAMA NEEDS TO GO.

Romney, the Obama administration and campaign certainly have no effect on my views of undergarments nor campaign financing any more than the GOP do. If you read around the comments sections on other political posts I've made, you'll find my criticism of our President as well.

GAs prices hit the all time high of 4.79 a gallon in Aug. of 2008. And by the time Obama took office they had not dropped to 1.89. they were 2.49. Yes I lived it I dont need you to try to convince my of your lies to get me to your side. I am a true INDEPENDANT, i dont think much of the current president. But that being said, the alternitive would be so much worse.

I don’t care if you criticize the savior himself; your dumbass comments about what kind of underwear a man or woman wears shows how completely out of touch you are. I would rather put my faith in a man that has a track record of saving and creating jobs (90% success rate w/ Bain) than a failure who has proven all he has are empty promises.

Initiates are told that the garment "will be a shield and a protection to you against the power of the destroyer until you have finished your work here on earth." Today, official Church discourse treats this as a spiritual promise: as a reminder of one's covenants and a token of obedience to God's commandments, the garment serves "as a protection against temptation and evil."They DO NOT protect you from Bullets, Fire, Car wrecks, etc... if you were ever protected from such things, it was GOD protecting you NOT a piece of cotton.

Brant, can you please educate all might Brandt how talking about someone’s underwear is stimulating? I dawn the same type of under garments Mr. Romney does...I have yet to have money rain down on me, I can’t fly, I don’t know how to turn water into wine, I can’t make people disappear (although the more I read your posts I’d love to have that ability) and I have yet witness any miracles on my behalf...the more you post the dumber and more bigoted you sound. Your way of thinking was unpopular since Salem, MA!

I certainly have not called for anyone to be burned at the stake here. I hear it is taboo to speak publicly about your undergarments so I'm honored you'd do so on this forum. I have to admit, I'm put at ease a little to hear they don't actually work though.

You’re absolutely right my underwear will not make me fly anymore than your comments will make not want to kill myself from listing to such BS. And then, yes pick up a history book (you will have to read it not too many pictures) your hate speech, true ignorance, and pure intolerance for other cultures and religions is EXACTLY how the Salem Trials happened.

If you need help, we can help you get help. My art does not harm anybody. Last I checked, the Salem Witch trials claimed the lives of human beings though broad assumptions and a mob mentality. My art facilitates neither. The only generalization I make is that Money corrupts our Government and Electoral Process.

Ohh you naive boy you....it has been proven time and time again words and images do create and still anger and hatred...Hitler never killed a single person either but his hate and his rhetoric certainly did. If your point is to talk about money in politics that is a great discussion to have, I will probably disagree with your views as you will disagree with mine, and that is a good thing it keeps the both of us honest. But to start talking about a person’s very sacred religious beliefs into a conversation that has nothing to do with what you are talking about is in fact stirring up hatred and bigotry. To think anything less is juvenile.

Romney's underwear has no place in a political race but neither does money from Companies. Bath in the satirical irony. As I've said many times, if my art provokes a response then it is successful by definition and you simply validate my point.

Then why insert it yourself? Satire is fine...so by your meaning of satire...I just assume you will be drawing Obama as a monkey, or Biden as a Nazi...cause that would be so ironic, or racist...but hahaha its only satire, right, and it provokes thought. Let’s not worry about how it is extremely offensive to millions of African Americans or German Americans. And those Mormons....F em! You’re just too ironic and funny for me! Did you hear the sarcasm...another word you can use. But I prefer hatred.

The first thing I can agree with you on. I am having a very hard time seeing what is funny about desecrating a religious symbol. Hey I got your next one for you....it will cause much laughter in your circle...why not depict the Pope with his rosaries up his ass? That would be funny wouldn’t it? I do not see a difference. It is NOT funny and it is NOT satire, it is hate speech.

So talking about the collapse of the middle class, you choose to desecrate an entire religion...still can’t see the irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like. I see Hatred, Vile, Ugly, Weak...are those words in your dictionary?

American politics remind me so much of a daytime soap opera. It is a fucking joke that people get so bent out of shape arguing about partisan bullshit when both parties are taking lobbyist money equally and selling out America equally. With the exception of maybe two or three people in Congress, there isn't a single motherfucker in Washington D.C. that can't be bought out completely or bribed. We are humans and we have some very serious fundamental flaws that we need to work out and address in order for all people to prosper equally.

Stop acknowledging fake boundaries and understand that we are all humans that want food, shelter, clothing, water, and love.

Love the quote; we need some, but never as much as we're led to believe.

At different times in my life, I've had enough to own a house steps from the Pacific Ocean; other times, not enough to buy a penny candy. Now, I live in a house with some land near Lake Tahoe; paid cash from sale of house by the ocean. The bottom fell out of the housing market and I quickly said bye bye to a quarter million $. But, I've still got a roof over my head and it's only dirty paper anyway.

Ya can't buy good health. I'm two years into my 4th serious cancer since returning from Nam in '69. #1 & #2 were supposed to be terminal; no cure for leukemia, #4.

Money is just dirty paper. Buy art, music, books. Enjoy the moment; build a Zen garden and gaze upon the birds fluttering amid the flowers and stone and Ponderosa Pine, colored green by clinging ivy.

When melancholy creeps in I think of Saul's sad eyes. He survived the killing fields of Pol Pot, but not his eight sisters and bros, nor mom and dad, who lost their heads to the Khmer Rouge.

Saul guided me through the wonders of Angor Wat, figures larger than me, carved into rock,Endlessly.

Called home by Hindus initially, In 2004, a couple dozen Buddhist monksWere wandering about on that date,Then gone, off to meditate.

And for the monks, too, money is just dirty paper.They'd rather you'd be well and thier rice bowl full

Greetings,Brandt: I discovered your site this morning and have selected seven, I think, of your paintings for purchase. Your art is stunning and original with subjects, such as Jack Kerouac and the wild man himself, Hunter Thompson. Even my very conservative Republican father who was awarded five medals for bravery in the Italian Campaign during WWII, read his book, Hell's Angels years before a history professor introduced me to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. When I read it, I truly was thrust by my laughter into an altered world, a rare achievement, akin to your captivating art. My first Australian Shepherd was honored with the name of Savage Lucy.

Now, if I may focus my "Chi" on the gratuitous disharmony splattered upon you and your art by the pseudo-intellectual whose bloated stream of consciousness post on 5/15 would make Ralph Waldo Emerson cringe in horror at the Frankensteins created in the name of his innovations in the craft of writing. The post was pointless as there was no coherent point. It drifted this way, then that way, without a thoughtful plan, simply carried by the winds in a mindless state of ignorance. And like 1st grade finger painter, smearing words of Socialist, Communist and Weather Underground, upon a canvas, randomly and with thoughtless whimsy. Words, paper and pen can be tools capable of producing great pieces of work,if the mind commands the pen with literay skill; just as a fine brush in a practiced hand, with a full, colorful pallette and imaginitive mind can produce objects of wonderment exhibiting the variety of Monet's, Woman with a Parasol and Kano Eitoku's, screens, Scenes from The Tale of Genji.

Let not these Obama haters mar the harmony of the day. From time immemorial, perfection in man's nature, much less government, has been as elusive as the Fountain of Youth. And Socialism, as a learned person would understan, as originally conceived, was a most humane concept. What we have in those calling Obama a communist/socialist and destroyer of our country, in fact know next to nothing of American history, Soviet history or any history, especially that of our Constitution. I engage these misinformed but fanatical militants almost daily, as I live in Grass Valley, CA, home of two of the co-founders of the National Tea Party Hateriots. They think they're smart, but in reality, I think my mini Australian Shepherd has more brains than the whole lot of them. Enough said.

Now I'll go and complete my order and discuss commissioning an original painting. And Brandt, you are a gentleman and a professional, knowing how to respond with the proper restraint to that cowardly clown, Anonymous and the simply misguided Romney. Having been a combat Marine in Vietnam, and a Republican at that time, I've learned from the past. A Marine Corps motto was 'Gung Ho', which means, working together, and that means compromising, give and take, in order to accomplish the nation's business. What we have is a party--the far right wing, evangellically submissive GOP that just says no to every thing Obama proposes, wanting him to fail, just as moron Rush proclaimed three years ago. They have put their Party's interests above the interests of the country, a truly despicable follow-up act to the wrenching and horrific Presidency of Bush and his cadre of chickenhawks who nearly destroyed our country. The ruins they left for Obama to clean up takes more than three years and must include all Americans in the effort. A return to Bush's idiotic policies is not the answer.

I couldn't agree more Ed. Obama was dealt a really bad hand with this Congress (the most dysfunctional in history.) Until we have elected officials who work together across party lines, we're stalled in the muck. An independent spirit has to be reached in our country. Political parties have been abandoned in our country's past and left as a footnote. It's time for these guys to go so we can get the obsession with "dirty paper" out of politics and return Democracy to our country.

Clear-as-Mud Anonymous, the point of this particular work of art is to draw attention to money in politics and campaign financing. The only involvement of Mormonism in the illustration is the traditional undergarments, which I thoroughly researched so they would be represented accurately. If you read my brief article, you would understand this. For anyone not familiar with the Mormon Underwear, please reference the YouTube video at the end of my prose.

Yes, Ignorance runs rampant (or sits still not paying attention) depending on your point of view.

how do i choose between a gigantic douche&a turd sandwich? this time i just can't...i think we're fuct either way this time. may the best elephant or donkey win this round,&r.i.p. america. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN..just NOT proud of the way things been going 4 a long long time round here. my grampa used 2 say,(Lord rest his sweet soul)while i wuz growing up,"the rich get rich&the poor get poorer" he wuz so right&now i know what he meant. Also in closing,semi famous quote 4get where from"THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE LIBERTY FOR FREEDOM DESERVE NEITHER" ya know nothing will change truly unless we somehow get rid of two-party system &get candidates who truly care about the american PEOPLE, not selfserving&special interests&corporate greed&the almighty dollar,The answer isnt with really either the dems or repubs,theyre just arguing&flinging poo to keep us divided...and we the sheeple r eating it up,mostly..YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO DIE,AMERICA,WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Love,1HoosierMommyps i could go on&on bout this stufff but its freakin late nite ;-)

Emma, we have to continue to raise our voice as you just did to help folks see beyond party lines and to a more independent state of understanding. Neither party comes close to representing the needs and wants of the American people. Until we vote a person into office who isn't spending billions of Wall Street dollars to get elected, we will remain at the will of politicians who are having their strings pulled by Big Business.

A$$ Hat Anonymous, I strongly urge you to research some more before you vote in a few short months. Unless you are a millionaire, Romney's tax plan will have you paying even MORE taxes to make up for what he intents to cut even further for the rich in our country. His agenda is to say whatever it takes to get into office so his 1% can continue to bankrupt the middle class.

This has absolutely nothing to do with tax increases. It's simply comparing what companies did or didn't do while Romney was there. Mitt Romney is still a financial pariah and has a proven track record of destroying jobs and buying his way through office.

We can't afford to have another Republican Administration that almost caused a disaster. Lucky for us all that Obama and the Democrats saved our nation from almost certain catastrophe even though Republicans are still trying to destroy us and our chance for jobs. Shame on you!

The Republican Party are the most successful propagandists in the past half-century. They have convinced the American public they have their best intentions at heart by polarizing religiously fueled issues such as abortion and gay marriage while rallying the dead battle cry against Socialism which was ushered in by Reagan. In reality, these people are by-and-large millionaires and only react and work for those with the same financial powers which they do.

Brandt, you do know that that the most wealth politicians in Washington are Democrats right. This constant barrage of "Republicans have stalemated Obama" mantra is old. Obama had both houses for two years and did NOTHING to help the economy. He promised us if we only give him almost a TRILLION dollars he would save every American job and unemployment would never go over 8%. In his administration real unemployment is almost 16 %( those who have given up looking and stopped receiving benefits) and conventional numbers and NEVER been below 8%. Blame who you want but the buck stops at the top! You try to argue with abstract thoughts and rarely have I read any posts from you siting actual facts and figures. It’s all speculation and talking points. The fact is Obama has been a failure as a president and whether or not you have a D or an R next to your name, if you don’t look at the facts...don’t vote! What I am looking at is what is in front of me; I’m faced with two choices, Romney or Obama. I am not voting for Bush, Clinton or anyone else or their records...it’s between Romney and Obama, and Obama's record sucks!

...and that's a transparent comment. I'm not here to argue about Obama's record on a post about the corruption of money in politics. Obama's donations have crooked strings attached just the same as Romney's.

Offshore Anonymous, I really do have the same feelings. One of the major problems with corruption of our government is that businessmen have taking so much over from the inside. Doing away with lobbying and placing limits on the business ties office-holders have would help reform us back to a stabler economy and more even distribution of wealth. The only reason the rich seek to hold public offices is to further control situations of money and assets. They seem to care very little about the other 99% of us below their tax bracket.

they are all rich.. the rank hypocrisy of the left is they love, adore, wallow in money, they just hate with a passion the political right also has money. So the uber rich democrats just use saps like you to gain power, How many billions did Kerry hide overseas?.. or Ted Kennedy?.. or Pelosi?.. or now that he's in the "I got filthy rich as a politician with no gainful employment" Obama?...

The left has a long disgraceful history of lying to it's adoring voters, who also seem to love being lied too.

You trolled a conservative site, just to gin up traffic for your suckass "art" ..

How capitalist of you...

You're obviously a tool, so there is nothing to discuss, I don't care to bother trying to save you from yourself. I have enough friends, and left wingers are tiresome in their hate spewing dogma.

Just be sure to stay away from sharp objects when Obama looses in November.. you might hurt yourself when the country rejects the crazy left, as it always has.

Just6 stop trolling conservative sites.. we don't believe you, and insulting us, just makes it easier for use to work that much harder for Mitt. Trolls are a special subset of annoying,.. try and remember that when you decide to ride your hobby horse, you are just making an ass of yourself.

Oh Mark... did I mention party lines in that last comment? You right-wingers get your blood up when someone talks about your boy so you start slinging gops of mud across the isle. The money which has corrupted our Government from the inside-out certainly comes from Democratic as well as Republican greed.

Until November, I'll be right here on my horse watching the circus below as Romney gets decimated by his own corruption and elitist mentality which can't hide behind all the conservative propaganda and dirty money in the world.

Brandt, you are so transparent it’s laughable. May I ask you to post you tax returns for the last 4 years on this site? Did you take advantage of every take break and deduction you could? How much did you donate to charity? What was your tax rate AFTER your deductions? Something tells me by looking at your "art" you didn’t have much taxable income in the first place so I’m guessing you took the AMT credit right? Did you think that you dint pay enough so you mailed in a check? I’m sure we all know the answers to all these questions. And as for the offshore accounts, well judging by your posts I can conclude your lower than average intelligence level so I wont confuse you (or your blind followers) by discussing what a blind trust is it would only hurt your brain by forcing in facts...and as we know you can’t be bothered by facts it only hurts your cause!

As I've stated on my site countless times, I work full time as a Marketing Director for a company who has won international awards during my tenure. I make a modest salary, from which I can assure you Uncle Sugar gets his chunk. I not only use my own money to fund the art I produce, I donate artwork to charity annually and have contributed to three fundraisers this year with another in October.

So give me a number...you figure you give 5-6% of your annual salary to charity? Those of us who wear "majic underwear" donate a minimun 10% most give more. Romney that nast capitalisy money man last year alone donated about 20% of his annual income to several charities amounting to millions...post YOUR tax return and put your money where your mouth is so we how much you truely give and how many deductions you take. Again until you do that put up or shut up!

So Majic Man, are we talking 10% to the church or 10% to charity? I was raised a Christian (though I have a drastically different belief system now) and much of my family believes in giving to the church. I only donate artwork to nonprofit organizations which help fight diseases and poverty or promote education.

You can play these "put up or shut up" games with me and anyone else in the country, but it is irrelevant. My taxes are a drop in the bucket and can't fix the economy. Only curbing the tax evasion of corporations and the 1% will do that. Romney is only hiding his tax returns from public eye because it is painfully obvious he isn't pulling his weight and cheating the very government he wants to lead.

To satisfy my own curiosity, I just pulled my 2011 tax return and 17% of my income went to the Federal Government AFTER deductions for my artwork and donations as well as claiming the profits made off of my art. In 2011, Mitt Romney paid in 15% of his claimed income. This alone speaks volumes of the class inequalities in our country. EVERY last Middle Class worker in our country should be enraged that they pay a higher tax rate than the rich AND their companies. It is impossible for ANY President to fix such a lopsided financial system without at least going back to Clinton-era tax rates (which the rich ironically call "class warfare.")

I more than likely make less than you do seeing that your this big time artist, I paid around 17% myself and not once have I ever been outraged or even gave two craps that someone pays less than I do. Maybe it was my upbringing that thought me 1. Not to worry about what other kids are doing and 2. Maybe one day I can be one of those rich guys. But to rage class warfare like YOU are doing, like Obama is doing, adds nothing to further the argument of how to make America a better place to live. You sound like the little boy on the playground crying because someone is wearing nicer shoes than you are....we all better be fair if poor Brandt can’t have those than nobody should...it’s only fair right....

That's the American Dream now, right? The problem with America is that we're led to believe we can ALL be millionaires one day. This is why so many people live beyond their means and the financial institutions are all too happy to support such behavior (with interest of course.)

I think you have misconstrued my own wants here. I grew up poor in a trailer here in rural Tennessee but I wasn't raised to want and I wasn't raised to resent others for their success. Much of America isn't rebelling against the system because they want more or feel entitled. They are doing it because the Middle Class is becoming extinct as the rich grow richer. People only want the necessities of a comfortable life. Children starve while Romney takes home 50K for a plate dinner. I don't want new shoes, I want the billions being funneled into campaigning to be put to better use by raising up our poor and putting them to work. A company gives Romney or Obama a million dollar check as in the form of legal bribery when the same company is laying off workers to avoid paying for their health care.

Please...spare me the it’s all about the middle class crap. You grew up in Tennessee, well I wish I did, my home was a singlewide in rural Wyoming, and did I bitch about it...NO! I worked my way out of that situation and that is what I expect others to do as well. America treats everyone the same whether you will admit it or not. If you’re willing to work hard and put in the hours and effort, you in fact will make it. You may not be a millionaire but you can provide for yourself and your starving children. It’s those that sit on their ass and expect the check to come each week so they won’t have to go get a job doing whatever. I lost my job in 2010, did I sit on my ass and say ohh poor me the economy is bad so I cant work...must be those rich folks fault I’m not working. No, I went out sold used cars until I could get a better job, and I did. I just don’t get how Obama or Romney charging 50k for a plate of food would have or have not bettered my life in any way. It’s all whining cause you’re not at the table with them. If the middle class wants to save themselves from extinction, I suggest they work harder or learn new skills to compete. I had to. I do not belong to any board of directors that decide to lay off a thousand workers and then donate to a campaign, but to be honest if you don’t like the way they do business, don’t patronize them. Tell them how you fell with your wallet, that my friend is the American way, not whining on an internet forum.

Again with the word twisting... I never complained about my upbringing but was simply providing context. It's unfortunate that so much of the working class is as indoctrinated as you are about giving free reign to glutinous companies run by the greediest job-destroying vultures on earth. Using the analogy of "voting with your wallet" only goes to verify my position of money corrupting our electoral system.

By the way... you can stop whining on my internet forum any time you like today.

It’s not going to happen pal...you are wrong on as many levels I can think. You’re uneducated, out of touch with reality, full of hate and contempt towards millions of Americans. I will keep posting on this wall until you apologize to the LDS people about your despicable depiction of religious desecration. You are what is wrong with this world, not the Democrats or the Republicans, its hate filled people like you, who have zero tolerance toward someone who doesn’t believe the same way you do.

I recommend you begin by getting your facts and statistics from fact checking websites that don't have biased leaning. e.g., factcheck, politifact , etc etc. Investors Daily constantly cites information from government agencies and you know what, those numbers don't lie. I'm not a hardcore Romney supporter, nor am I an obsessive after 5 p.m. Fox News watcher, but I do support cold hard numbers and by all means, Obama's facts and statistics are downright awful.

Further more, consider one of the taxes that is being implimented by the Affordable Health Care Act. This is actually an oxymoron because it punishes the middle class, unions who work for companies that want to provide benefits for their employees:

I'll use my friend's non-profit affordable housing company as an example. His company provides the so called "Cadillac" health insurance plan. His company provides a comprehensive plan that costs a little over $11,000 per year per employee. Based on the new Obamacare, my friend will now be paying 40% of the 11,000. Allow me to break this down and amortize it over 12 monthly payments.

$11,000 x 40% = $4,400 / 12 months = $366.67

What does this exactly mean? Simple, it means Obama, who claims he is a hero for the middle class, is penalizing/taxing you because your company is paying for your insurance. You will be paying a minimum of $366 a month for your healthcare even if you don't go and see a Doctor or use any of the services???

There are stories which lean both ways as far as Obamacare is concerned Jardin. Any numbers cited in my article are linked back to their sources. I'd be interested to know what you found inaccurate since you ARE in fact obsessive enough after 5PM to put me on blast.

Hey Spencer. The problem with your "logic" is that Obamas 260 million came from millions of donors, a relatively "few" dollars at a time. Willards is from a few big donors, trying to buy the presidency.

I do not support Romney OR Obama, but I can't believe how you Obama cheerleaders can't decipher the clear difference between free market capitalism and corporatism (a.k.a. the crapitalism) we have right now. That alone takes away ALL legitimacy of any argument you could ever try to make.

@ Chris, If you really want to see what you tea party truely means by "Free Market" read or watch the "Shock Doctrine". It will explain how they will destroy the economy in the name of the all mighty dollar in thier pockets. And let the 99% feed off of what they can find in the gutter.

@ Chris, where in the constitution does it state the we were set up to be a "Freem Market" or even a "Capitalist" society. But it does say we should "promote the general welfare for ourselves and our posterity".

Anonymous...you exactly right, the constitution says to "promote the general welfare for ourselves and our posterity" there are three words there you really don’t listen to and just kind of use that phrase to fit your misunderstanding of that great document. The first is GENERAL, not complete or comfortable. That does not mean everyone on welfare deserves a flat screen TV. It doesn’t even mean everyone deserves a job or health care, it has its roots in the fact that it is the govts job to keep us safe, nothing more. The second word is OURSELVES. The govt is not responsible for you, YOU are! The third word closely relates to the second, POSTARITY, meaning our family. I am responsible for the GENERAL welfare of my POSTARITY, you are not! In turn, I am not responsible for you or your posterity. And if you really want to dig into that little phrase of yours it says promote, not guarantee. So your Swiss cheese argument is quite misplaced. And as far as the economic system we currently have, your right this was not set up by the constitution, but was implemented buy the people some time ago using the freedoms our constitution set forth. In conclusion, you’re a moron. Educate yourself before posting next time please. I would rather not smack your little behind with so much knowledge.

When were we ever a Democracy Brandt? It’s the uneducated like yourself who think we are or ever were a Democracy. We are a Representative Republic, always have been. Ancient Greece was a democracy, Ancient Rome was a Democracy, we are not.

Just found this page. Brandt, you're simply an asshat. If you would stoop so low to make fun of religious garments, then who gives a crap what you think except others caught in the same lint trap that you're in? I think liberals have gotten more and more disgusting. So glad I "escaped" that party over a decade ago and there is NOT going back.

Oh, and PS -- Your top ranking loser, Harry Reid, is also a Mormon which makes you even more of an asshat. Just sayin ...

Social class warfare is for the rich who hate everyone else and won't lend a dime to help the poor, sick and underprivileged to live a normal life with basic necessities. Greed is the religion of the rich who hire the smartest and brightest minds in our country to alter, distort and bastardize economics to benefit rich elitists. I'm only jealous of the control that money has over our elected officials as it has destroyed our government from the inside out. Good things CAN be done with money but not so often in our land of consumption and materialism.

@moronic, sucess and greed are two diffrent things. I hope you learn the diffrence before it leads you to hell. I am A mail man and I'm am very sucessful at my job and my life. But I am not greedy nor do I serve the all mighty dollar. I have enough to live comfortably but do not strive to have more than that.

USPS Anonymous, You guys are heroes! I work very closely with my local Post Office through various marketing programs I run at my day job. We owe much of the success of our marketing on you guys' precision and care for your job- helping people and businesses.

It's good to hear you see yourself as successful in your career. Money has nothing to do with it. I make practically no profit off of my art and writing but the definition of successful art is that which provokes response.

We all deserve to live comfortable lives when we put in to society. To create millionaires and billionaires, too often the result is others suffering. When is enough enough?

Unless your name is Joe Biden, id say those evil rich people donate millions of dollars to charity...you’re a sad entitlement-minded brat. If you can’t be rich cause you unwilling to do the work it takes to get there, then hell those who have worked hard and sacrificed to amass some wealth should damn well shut up and give you your share right?

I'm not in need of entitlement, it's the single mother who has to take a bus to work and can't afford daycare who should get their share. It's the cancer patient who can't work but is being evicted from their home because health care costs don't line up with minimum wage who needs support. Tell these people they don't work hard enough. The income gap in our country has eroded the Middle Class from the inside out.

Normalizing taxes for the rich isn't for me- I don't need it. Greed runs the rich. Dreams of grandeur and riches run the small-minded and indoctrinated who think any of these pariahs actually work for a living rather than collect dividends.

So you are telling me the 81% of all millionaires in this country are SELFMADE and they are there because they sit on their ass and collect dividends? And that single mother is single in large part from her choices in life, not all of them, but most. And your argument about the cancer patient is a straw man, I’m in the healthcare field, there isn’t a single patient who is turned down for care. There are huge funds set aside (mostly from private sector donors) so those fighting for their lives can be well taken care of. I have never said there should not be assistance for those in need, as long is it to help them improve their station in life, not hold them down and turn them into dependant minded slaves to the federal govt. Private sector and big business does more to help and donates more money to charities than any federal grant has ever done whether you like to admit it or not. It is our job as a society to help others; family, churches, friends, charities, ect. Not the federal govt. And especially not those who have busted ass and earned their spot in the 1%.

At the end of the day, our economy was stronger and unemployment was lower when the 1% paid a reasonable and traditional tax rate. Bush-era tax cuts and deregulation has and is destroying the Middle Class.

Prove it. Site some resources saying the tax cuts were the only factor in our economic downturn. Just saying it does not make it true Brandt. During the economic explosion in the mid 80's, the tax rate on the rich was 25%. In NO time in recorded history more human (Americans) became millionaires even accounting for inflation. In NO time in recorded history more wealth was held by a single country. So your argument is not correct. There are more factors to an economy than the tax rate of the rich. How about let’s talk about the housing market and Barney Franks roll in destroying it. All the while Bush was telling congress it would collapse. He was ignored, it crashed sending our entire economy into a tail spin, and then Bush was blamed for not stopping it. Ohh it’s those pesky facts again!

The Clinton administration raised taxes back up to a normal level for the rich and erased our deficit. That's all we need to know... everything else you mention is the result of deregulation of money by the same administration.

I've been checkout out the pair I just got from www.mormonssecret.com where heathens can get a pair, and I thought it would be awesome if Mitt got the Bill Clinton question--when asked if he wore boxers or if he wore briefs. Then candidate Bill Clinton laughed and replied, “Usually briefs.” That was 1992. Barack Obama got the same question when he was running, and he said, “Whichever one it is, I look good in them.”

But now we have Mitt Romney. The question has to be rephrased to consider his religiouspreferences. That’s because Mormons who have gone through the secret temple rituals must wear official Mormon underwear around the clock.

I picked up a pair at the hilarious Victoria's Secret of Mormon underwear because I'm going to have the most kickass halloween costume this year. Though, I can't decide if I want to go as a Mormon missionary...or Mitt Romney. Thoughts?

Obviously you do not know how VC's work. People seek them out and most times the folks doing the seeking are at a point where they need a cash in flow to keep the doors open. At this point the VC will look at the business and determine the risk. If they believe the risk can be worth the reward they will invest "their" money. The contract will have clear milestones that are to be met and exit strategies, because believe it or not the VC is looking to make a profit. No one and I repeat no one if forcing the company to take the money and they should fully understand the terms. Bain has about and 80% success rate which is fantastic. What is Obama's success rate?

VC Anonymous, this post has nothing to do with Vulture Capitalism but since you brought it up... companies like Bain take absolutely no risk and ALL of the reward. The losses are socialized through worker cuts and outsourcing while profits flow straight to the top and into the pockets of the investors. Of course, then the rich pariahs owning the company haven their dividends off-shore while the company doesn't do much more for the public by taking advantage of every tax loophole put in place over the past 10 years through lobbying and government corruption. The only persons who profit from Vampire Capitalism are the money-holders at the top, who've put in placed a rigged system where they cannot lose.

And just a suggestion- when you call it a VC, it sounds more like a sexually transmitted disease. Of course, that's an insult to an STD being compared to the likes of these class-dividing parasites.

Despite those clips being hand-picked by an extremist and fear-monger such as O'Reilly, I can't say I disagree with much of what was said. Of course, the video is completely off topic and has nothing to do with your curriculum suggestion.

I'm really surprised at how many conservative posters on here are trained economists. Do you link your page to university economics departments or something? Or is FNC now an accredited school of economics? It is kind of funny how much people like to insult and hate you, much love brother.

I believe they've trademarked that in the UK now. Pinatas in his likeness are due out next month... break them open for the candy made in Indonesia. Every one comes with a free roll of toilet paper with $100 bills printed on each sheet.

I would say I am amazed by all the scholars that are posting on here, but the internet is full of old lady titties! I mean, there are tons noble peace prize winners drawing unemployment because of these posters!!! If only they could make a website, draw a picture.. but they don't have anyone else that wants to listen to them either, so, they get to "be right on the internet"!! That's SO MUCH COOLER!!!

What I really can't believe... is how many parents are willing to throw their kids under the bus... My parents said I drew like an amazing artist.. never like a 6 year old or a 5th grader!! Parents, invest in your children since your tax dollars aren't!! If you are a wanna be veteran drawing entitlements, when you know your ass could get a job or a baby tending mormon... just know, it starts at home... and who is watching these children you reference while you are trying to descroy an humble artist from po dunk tn!?! Just goes to show... research is like SUPER important.

HOW has Obama "lessened the gap between rich and poor"?? He's still getting us involved in undeclared endless wars that the elite benefit from, he bails them out, and he also takes money from Goldman Sachs.

I-Know-You-Are-But-What-Am-I Anonymous, I'm quite certain I wouldn't agree with Obama's campaign contributor list any more than Romney's. I do know that Obama is fighting tooth and nail to raise taxes back to Clinton-era rates on the rich and their companies. He also scores points with me in paving the way for universal healthcare, which is no longer an elitist luxury thanks to his work.